GLA restructure

Susan Hall: For the GLA restructure, what is the number of posts being deleted and the number being created by each department?

The Mayor: Staffing implications and the detail of the GLA establishment, including the numbers of creations and deletions of posts, will be published in the final version of the GLA:Mayor budget following its formal sign off in March.

Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, Streetspace and Emergency Services

David Kurten: TfL’s Streetspace for London programme has reduced arterial road space for motorised vehicles. The extensive rollout of so-called Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTN) has displaced traffic into surrounding and arterial roads. As a result of these two measures implemented in 2020, traffic gridlock has become a regular feature on many roads. Countless videos show stranded police cars, ambulances and fire engines, or having to take time-consuming diversions to reach people in urgent need of attention.What specific concerns or warnings has a) London Fire Brigade b) London Ambulance Service, and c) Metropolitan Police Service made to the Mayor of London and TfL about these?

The Mayor: Early data from schemes in Hackney and Lambeth shows that traffic levels in the LTNs have fallen and have not increased on boundary roads as you suggest.
Transport for London (TfL) continues to engage with the emergency services and the boroughs throughout the delivery of the temporary projects which are being delivered in line with government guidance as an urgent response to the pandemic. Although Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have been in use in London for many years, TfL has acted to strengthen the liaison between boroughs and emergency services through joint working. This has allowed any specific local issues to be raised and addressed, and has led, for example, to the much more widespread use of camera enforcement with easy access for blue light response vehicles.
TfL continues to work with the boroughs on monitoring, and meets with the emergency services regularly, ensuring early resolution of concerns as they arise, and that liaison between all parties remains strong and active.

Furlough extension

Leonie Cooper: What discussions have you had with the Government with regards to extending furlough for Londoners beyond April if COVID restrictions are still in place?

The Mayor: I have continually pressed Government to ensure sufficient support is in place to help businesses and workers in the hardest hit sectors, such as retail, culture and hospitality. Therefore, I was pleased the government announced an extension of the furlough scheme until the end of September in the recent budget. The Government’s delay in confirming the extension ofthe furlough, has undoubtedly cost jobs, made the life of businesses harder and caused unnecessary worry for furloughed Londoners.
The economic case to continue to protect businesses and workers is overwhelming, particularly while social distancing restrictions remain in place. And whilst I hope that we are through the worse, the Chancellor must be willing to extend business support should the worst happen and there is a third wave.

Work of the Violence Suppression Units (VSUs) (6)

Siân Berry: Thank you for your answer to my question 2020/1641. How many people in this list of 1,000 individuals are also on the Metropolitan Police Service Gangs Matrix?

The Mayor: Following on from my response to MQ 2020/1641, setting out the criteria for the selection of 1,000 people who could benefit from the work of MPS VSUs, I can confirm that of those individuals who went on to receive a visit, 159 were also named on the Gang Violence Matrix.